Roy Beggs MLA who has been astonished by the gross mismanagement by P&O Ferries Senior Executives has called on DP World limited to reinstate P&O staff so that the Company can recover from the PR disaster as a result of P&O’s heavy handed sacking of all ferry staff.
Roy Beggs said, “DP World Limited are the ultimate owners of P&O Ferries and they are spending £10’s millions of pounds in sponsorship of Golf’s European Tour which will be known as the DP World Tour tournament. However, the company’s reputation in in tatters as a result of P&O Ferries abuse of their staff which they sacked without notice via video call. The European Golf Tour are in danger of being tarnished by their linkage.
I would call DP World Limited to sack their Senior Executives and reinstate ferry staff as a first step to recovering the viability of the Company.
Larne Cairnryan have been cancelled and the vital trade route stopped and there are indications it will be at least a week before ferries resume. HMG carried out a Union Connectivity Review and invested almost £1 million in investigating a bridge to Scotland. HMG should be considering vesting of Larne and Cairnryan Harbours so that disruption to trade like this can never happen again.
It appears that Maritime law might be enabling the abusive practises that we are hearing about, if that is the case legislation should be changed so that domestic ferries linking Northern Ireland to GB should be required to follow standard UK employment regulations”.
